Page 88 of A Quick Stop in Paradise

“What?” I shot him a look, and he grinned.

“She did a number on you.”

“Psh…” I rolled my eyes, sipping my wine. “Granted,” I said. “Yeah, you got me there.”

“Well, you’re stuck with me at least. You didn’t even leave me alone in the womb, so I’m never giving you a minute of peace.”

“Try not to bequiteso affectionate.” Sarcasm aside, I stopped, gaze flicking to the beach, when I saw Allison walking out of the water not too far away, and I had to suppress a laugh when I saw her walk up to where Stella was there on the beach too, getting changed and pulling real clothes on over her swimwear. Of course Stella would stay on the beach until the very last second, and of course Allison would stay with her for every second she could.

But also, the two of them were standing way too close. I couldn’t believe Stella’s… lack of originality. I mean, sure, I knew she wanted to be closer to me and share more experiences, but did that mean she had to hook up with a girl just because I did?

Oscar noticed me staring off into the distance, but he didn’t catch Stella before the host came back, bringing Mom to the table and seating her down across from me and Oscar, where she gave me a smile that was sweet but loaded with about a million different thoughts and feelings at once.

“Hi, sweetheart,” she said. “Hi, Oscar. Have you heard from Stella? I thought she’d be here first.”

I spoke over Oscar saying he hadn’t to say, “I’m sure she’ll be here in a second. Probably off flirting with someone on the beach.”

Mom sighed good-naturedly and said, “Both my daughters off frolicking in paradise… Oscar, you might as well introduce me to your date too.”

Oscar made a face. “I went on a vacation to a far-off island to be around peopleless.Dating someone defeats the purpose.”

I gave him a shove. “Sorry, Mom,” I said. “Think you might have to accept this one’s not getting married at any point.”

Mom laughed airily. “Oscar stays celibate and you marry a woman… Stella might be my only chance at grandkids.”

Oscar spoke up before I could. “Pretty sure lesbians have kids too, Mom.”

“Also—” I said. “I’m not a lesbian. Icouldend up with a man.”

Mom sat up a little taller. “Right. Yes. I know. Well, you like women better, though, don’t you?”

“That’s not a thing, Mom.”

Oscar gave me a weird look. “It’s not?”

“I—” I burned suddenly. If the past week had taught me anything, it was that I had more of a preference than I thought. I hunched my shoulders, looking away. “That’s not the point.”

Mom and Oscar laughed together, and I’d have bristled at the two of them banding up on me—very unfairly, I might add—if I weren’t too busy feeling a hundred ways about talking casually about women to Oscar and my mother.

“Well,” Mom said, “even if you didn’t have kids, I’m just grateful you’re here.”

I softened, picking up my wine, looking down into it. “I know you were trying not to take sides, but letting Shane carry on as if he didn’t do anything was basically taking sides already. And it hurt.”

“I know, and…” Mom sat up taller, folding her hands on the table, looking past me and out to the ocean. “I am… I’m sorry. I just—I didn’t think he would do something like that. It seemed like it must have been a mistake.”

Oscar spoke quietly. “Ryan’s mistake?”

“Well, no,” Mom said, and with a grateful smile his way, I took his lead.

“Whose, then?”

Mom withered, just a little, her shoulders falling. “Sweetheart, it’s just… I’m sorry. I love you.” She struggled—clearly had a hundred follow-ups she wanted to say, a hundred ways to turnI love youintoI love you but,but she visibly, clearly, restrained herself, leaving it at that. I felt like I’d cry a little. Loaded childhood feelings and being desperate to get approval from my mother? Me? Never. I gave her a smile that I hoped didn’t look like I wanted to cry.

“I love you too. So… are we good, then?”

Mom didn’t get to respond before the terrace door swung open again, Stella coming out this time, and she did look all too happy… “You guys didn’t tell me you were all going to show up early,” she said, sitting down between me and Mom. “So what’s going on, what did I miss?”

I smiled warmly at her. “Done frolicking and flirting on the beach?”

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